size of backup disk

[mjf]

For extra backup security I was going to buy another 320 GB external drive for storing system images. Another thread stated that for system images the backup drive must be a higher capacity than the drive being backed up. That is you couldn't backup a 1 TB drive with say 100 GB used to the 320GB external drive?? Is this correct?

 

[fatedquest]

Most backup programs will compress the images it creates. It won't be more than the used space of the HDD you want to backup. However if you have a 1TB HDD with only 100GB used, you can easily create multiple smaller partitions and back them up individually.

 

[mjf]

Putting the question another way:
I have a 1TB hard drive with 2 500GB partitions (C,D). I want to store a windows system image of c: on a 320GB external hard drive. The system image takes up about 40GB. Can I do it (yes or no).

Or does windows want to see a physical external drive at least equal to the size of the 500GB c: partition. (as stated in another thread).